Cut flower
Is Lilies toxic to cats and dogs?
Lilium and Hemerocallis species · also called Easter lily, tiger lily, Asiatic lily, daylily
Cats
Highly toxicDogs
Mildly toxicTrue lilies and daylilies are among the most dangerous plants for cats: a couple of leaves, some pollen groomed from fur or water from the vase can cause fatal kidney failure. Dogs usually only get a stomach upset.
By Maya Hart
If your pet chewed it
- For cats this is an emergency: go to a vet immediately, even if your cat seems well.
- Treatment within 18 hours greatly improves the outlook.
- Call your vet or a pet poison helpline, tell them the plant name (a photo helps) and how much was chewed.
- Rinse your pet’s mouth with water and remove any plant material from the fur.
Signs to watch for
- Vomiting and drooling within hours
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Drinking and urinating more, then less
- Kidney failure within 1–3 days
What is harmful
- Parts
- Every part, including pollen and vase water
- Substance
- Unknown water-soluble toxin
The details
Not every plant called a lily is dangerous in the same way. Peace lilies and calla lilies cause mouth irritation, not kidney failure. The kidney-damaging species are the true lilies (Lilium) and daylilies (Hemerocallis). If you share a home with a cat, it is safest to keep all lilies out of the house, including in bouquets.
Pet-safe alternatives
- Roses
- Sunflowers
- Gerbera daisies
- Snapdragons
- Orchids
Questions owners ask
Is Lilies toxic to cats?
Yes — highly toxic to cats. Harmful parts: every part, including pollen and vase water.
Is Lilies toxic to dogs?
Yes — mildly toxic to dogs. Harmful parts: every part, including pollen and vase water.
What happens if a pet eats lilies?
vomiting and drooling within hours, loss of appetite, lethargy, drinking and urinating more, then less, kidney failure within 1–3 days.
What should I do if my pet chewed it?
For cats this is an emergency: go to a vet immediately, even if your cat seems well. Treatment within 18 hours greatly improves the outlook. Call your vet or a pet poison helpline, tell them the plant name (a photo helps) and how much was chewed. Rinse your pet’s mouth with water and remove any plant material from the fur.
What are pet-safe alternatives to lilies?
Roses, Sunflowers, Gerbera daisies, Snapdragons, Orchids.
Sources
Tailwise is for general information and is reviewed by veterinary professionals, but it is not a substitute for advice from your own vet, who knows your pet. How we check facts
